Axle-coupling for vehicles.



0. A. BEHLEN.

AXLE GOUPLING FOB. VEHICLES.

APPLIOATION IILED 00126, 1910.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

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CHARLES A. BEHIEN, 0F FRANKLIN, VIRGINIA.

AXLE-COPLING FOR VEHICLES.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1911.

Application filed October 6, 1910. Serial No. 585,668.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BEHLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Franklin, in the county of Southampton and State ofVirginia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inAxle-Couplings for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved construction of front axle couplingin combination with the center spring of a spring gearing, ashereinafter more fully set forth.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front and rear axles of a buggywith a spring gearing and axle coupling applied. Fig. 2 is a view ofdetails of the connection between the metal side bars and the body loopsor braces. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the improved coupling for thefront axle, and Fig. 4 is a detail view of parts of the improved axlecoupling.

In the several views 1 and 2 designate the front and rear axlesrespectively.

3 designates the bolster, to which the side springs 4, 4 are connectedby means of clips, as usual.

5, 5 designate rigid iron bars mounted longitudinally the main sidesprings 4, 4 and secured thereto by means of the clips 6. 7 designates across brace also secured to the side springs 4 by means of the clips 6.

The body of the vehicle, not shown, is supported on the body loops orbraces 8, 8 which are provided with T portions 9 to strengthen thesupport and provide for the bolt connections. These body loops 8 arebolted to the iron side bars 5, and to strengthen the parts at thepoints of connection and to render such connections rigid, the partsabout the bolt openings are reinforced by mating members comprising alug or boss 1() on the side bar and a recessed part 11 on the body loop,into which recess said boss closely fits.

Intermediate the side springs 4, 4 is a center spring 12. This spring isclipped to the rear axle 2 and to the cross brace 7, and extends beneathand slightly beyond the front axle 1 where it is connected with thebolster 3 by means of the spring brace 13.

As shown in Fig. 3, the front axle 1 is rounded or cup shaped part 17a.

coupled to and has pivotal connection with the center spring 12. Thedevices comprising this pivotal connection consist of a yoke 14embracing and secured to the axle 1 and axle bed 15 by means of a bolt16 passing through the axle bed. The yoke 14 is provided with a threadedyoke-bolt 17 and a The yoke and yoke-bolt .are preferably made of onesolid piece of metal as shown in Fig. 3. The yoke-bolt 17 is passedthrough the center spring 12, the latter being saucered or concaved atthe bolt opening to receive the cup shaped head of the yoke-bolt. Theyoke is secured to the center spring by means of a nut 18 provided witha concaved face to fit the convexed portion of the center spring, asshown.

In the improved construction, as herein described, it will be seen thatdrilling of the axle for the passage of a king-bolt is avoided, and thecup and saucer bearing of the coupling distributes the strain at thepivotal point, while the concaved nut enables the wear to be readily andeffectively taken up.

The pivotal connection between the axle 1 and bolster 3 comprises aking-bolt 19 passing through the bolster and provided with a square head19" seated in a square mortise 2O in the axle bed to prevent the boltfrom turning. Friction plates 21 and 2.2 are provided between thebolster and axle bed.

What I claim is:

In a vehicle of the class described, the combination with the axle andbolster, a pivotal member connecting the bolster with the upper portionof the axle, a center spring upon which the axle rests, and a pivotalconnection between the axle and center spring comprising a yoke memberembracing the axle and provided with a rounded bearing surface and abolt integral with said yoke member projecting through the centerspring, said spring provided with a depression to receive the roundedbearing of said yoke, and a nut for the bolt having a concaved face toengage the under surface of the depression in said spring.

CHARLES A. BEI-ILEN.

Witnesses LYDIA OWENS, GEO. BRowNLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

